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How a plant’s refusal to self-pollinate could help India grow more of its own cooking oil

A study from the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research–Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research has identified the genes controlling a natural self-rejection system in Indian oilseed crops, allowing for the production of high-yielding hybrid mustard. This self-rejection mechanism, pr...

SourceIndian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar·JournalFrontiers in Plant Science·DateSep 3, 2026

Characterizing antibodies targeting antisense oligonucleotide modifications

Researchers validated panels of antibodies targeting clinically relevant nucleic acid modifications to visualize antisense oligonucleotides in both in vitro and in vivo studies. The tools enable detection of modified nucleic acids irrespective of sequence, facilitating multiple clinical and pre-clinical workflows.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalNucleic Acid Therapeutics·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 31, 2025

Towards gene-targeting drugs capable of targeting brain diseases

Researchers at Tokyo University of Science have made breakthroughs in delivering gene-targeting compounds to the brain, using cholesterol-modified oligonucleotides that can penetrate the cerebral cortex beyond the blood vessels. This could lead to new treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, as well as brain cancers.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalJournal of Controlled Release·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 16, 2025

Antisense oligonucleotide treatment shows promise in treating Parkinson's disease progression

Researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University demonstrate a proof of concept for antisense nucleic acid therapy to prevent the spread of α-synuclein pathologies in synucleinopathies. The treatment, involving antisense oligonucleotides, effectively reduces Lewy pathology-like neuronal inclusion by over 90%.

SourceTokyo Medical and Dental University·JournalActa Neuropathologica Communications·DateJul 25, 2024

Effectiveness of using siRNA to treat Huntington’s disease

A new study published in Nucleic Acid Therapeutics found that siRNA reduces huntingtin mRNA levels in the cytoplasm but not in the nucleus of mouse brains, suggesting a limitation in its effectiveness for treating Huntington's disease. The research highlights the importance of understanding the structure and function of nuclear RNA to ...

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalNucleic Acid Therapeutics·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 22, 2024

Splicing it all together in the fight against cancer

Researchers at Osaka University have developed molecules that can correct improper splicing of a vital tumor suppressor gene in neuroendocrine cancers. The study demonstrates that these splice-switching oligonucleotides can significantly reduce viable cancer cells and tumor size in mice, suggesting a novel therapeutic approach for intr...

SourceOsaka University·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 2, 2024

Next-generation treatments hitch a ride into cancer cells

Researchers from Osaka University have discovered a way to deliver antisense oligonucleotides to their targets inside cancer cells by opening specific calcium permeable channels. The new compound, L687, promotes efficient uptake of ASO into cancer cells, suppressing target gene activity and enhancing ASO efficacy.

SourceOsaka University·JournalNucleic Acids Research·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 15, 2024

Neuropathic pain: The underlying mechanism and a potential therapeutic target are revealed in mice

Researchers uncover a pathophysiological mechanism that initiates and sustains neuropathic pain in mice, identifying Tiam1 as a potential therapeutic target. Targeting spinal Tiam1 with antisense oligonucleotides alleviates neuropathic pain hypersensitivity, offering promise for treating chronic pain.

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalNeuron·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 4, 2023

Novel method with implications for treatment of Fukuyama muscular dystrophy, a widespread neuromuscular disorder

Researchers from Japan have developed an RNA interference method using antisense oligonucleotides to correct a genetic defect in Fukuyama Muscular Dystrophy. This approach has shown promise in treating patients with the disease, which is characterized by generalized muscle weakness and intellectual disability.

SourceFujita Health University·JournalHuman Molecular Genetics·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 12, 2022

A new treatment approach for cystic fibrosis

A new treatment approach using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) may help reduce cystic fibrosis symptoms and improve quality of life for patients with a specific gene mutation. The ASO strategy tricks cells into making an imperfect but functional version of the CFTR protein, which is better than having none at all.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 14, 2022

Data from Codiak’s exoASO™-STAT6 preclinical development program for the treatment of primary and metastatic hepatic cancers published in Science Advances

Codiak BioSciences' exoASO-STAT6 demonstrates potent anti-tumor efficacy by reprogramming tumor-associated macrophages to an M1 phenotype, showing promise as a monotherapy candidate for hepatocellular carcinomas and other cancers. The company plans to initiate Phase 1 clinical trials in the first half of 2022.

SourceScient Public Relations, Inc.·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 18, 2022

Rosalind Franklin University researchers identify new therapeutic for cystic fibrosis

Researchers at Rosalind Franklin University have identified a new therapeutic approach for treating cystic fibrosis. The treatment uses antisense oligonucleotides to restore CFTR function by removing stop mutations. This strategy has shown promise in treating CF patients with class I mutations and similar types of mutations.

SourceRosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 3, 2022

Promising treatment for Alexander disease moves from rat model to human clinical trials

A new study provides preliminary data for a human clinical trial of a treatment that targets the root cause of Alexander disease. The treatment has shown promising results in halting the progression of the disease and even reversing some symptoms in rat models, which better represent the human condition.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 18, 2021

Supernova: A glowing DNA enzyme

Researchers at IOCB Prague have created a glowing DNA enzyme called Supernova, which catalyzes a chemiluminescent reaction. This breakthrough uses artificial evolution to identify light-producing deoxyribozymes in a vast library of DNA molecules, opening up new possibilities for point-of-care assays and high-throughput screens.

New guidelines push for better controlled experiments with synthetic nucleic acids

Researchers proposed new guidelines to standardize experiments with synthetic nucleic acids, addressing current issues like inadequate controls and misleading data interpretation. The guidelines focus on practical advice for performing experiments, measuring gene expression, and selecting appropriate controls.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalNucleic Acid Therapeutics·DateApr 4, 2019

New method stabilizes siRNAs without affecting gene silencing activity

Researchers have developed a new method to stabilize small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) by introducing phosphoramidate modifications, which enhances their stability and therapeutic potential. The study shows that the modified siRNAs maintain their gene silencing activity, making them suitable for various therapeutic applications.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalNucleic Acid Therapeutics·DateJan 9, 2018

More potent, inexpensive gene silencing agents described in Nucleic Acid Therapeutics

Researchers have developed single-stranded silencing RNAs (ss-siRNAs) with improved potency and activity, using inexpensive chemical modification to enhance their therapeutic potential. The study's findings have the potential to democratize gene therapy research, enabling more researchers to explore new treatments.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalNucleic Acid Therapeutics·DateMay 12, 2016